President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.